Acts 1

1I wrote my first account, Theophilus, about all the things Jesus began both to do and to teach,

2up to the day he was taken up, once he had given orders through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen.

3To them he also showed himself alive after he had suffered, with many sure proofs; over forty days he let them see him and spoke about the kingdom of God.

4As he was sharing a meal with them, he instructed them not to go away from Jerusalem but to wait for the Father’s promise, “which you heard from me.

5For John baptized with water, but before many days have passed you will be baptized in the Holy Spirit.”

6So those who had gathered asked him, “Lord, is now the time you are going to restore the kingdom to Israel?”

7He told them, “The times or seasons that the Father has set by his own authority are not for you to know.

8Instead, you will receive power as the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be witnesses for me in Jerusalem, throughout Judea and Samaria, and as far as the end of the earth.”

9When he had said this, he was lifted up as they watched, and a cloud took him from their view.

10As they were staring into the sky while he went, suddenly two men in white clothing stood next to them.

11They said, “Men of Galilee, why are you standing and gazing into the sky? This Jesus who has been taken up from you into heaven will come back in the very way you watched him go into heaven.”

12Then they went back to Jerusalem from the mountain called the Mount of Olives, which is close to Jerusalem, within a Sabbath day’s journey.

13When they had come in, they went up to the upstairs room where they were lodging: Peter and John, James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James.

14All of these were continuing faithfully in prayer with one mind, along with certain women and Mary the mother of Jesus and his brothers.

15During those days Peter rose to his feet among the brothers and sisters—about 120 people were gathered in one place—and said,

16“Brothers, it was necessary for the Scripture to be fulfilled that the Holy Spirit foretold through David’s mouth concerning Judas, who acted as guide for those who seized Jesus.

17For he had been included in our number and received his lot in this ministry.

18(With the payment for his wrongdoing this man got a field, and he fell headfirst, burst open in the middle, and all his insides poured out.

19Everyone who lived in Jerusalem came to know of it, and so that field came to be called in their own dialect Akeldama, which means Field of Blood.)

20For it is written in the book of Psalms, ‘May his homestead become deserted, and let no one live in it,’ and, ‘Let another take his position.’

21So from the men who have been in our company the whole time the Lord Jesus came and went among us,

22starting from John’s baptism up to the day he was taken up from us—one of these must join us as a witness to his resurrection.”

23They proposed two men: Joseph, known as Barsabbas, who was also named Justus, and Matthias.

24Then they prayed, “Lord, you know the hearts of all. Point out the one of these two whom you have chosen

25to take up the place of this ministry and apostleship, which Judas deserted to go to his own place.”

26They drew lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias, and he was enrolled alongside the eleven apostles.